Please help me choose a light!

[HOLONYAK]

Hi folks. I need a LED light or two and I need to narrow down my choices. Value is more important than price. Small and lightweight is good. It needs to survive being dropped and water resistance is a big plus. As long as its not too complicated, Im willing to mod/build. In addition to hiking and camping, I will mount it to my road bike (think 10 speed). I ride at speed so I would feel safer if I could clearly see far ahead. I also need decent flood coverage. Therefore Im willing to run 2 lights if I have to. If 2 lights are necessary, I would be cool if they were variations of the same light. Im OK with complicated user interfaces. The system must use rechargeable batteries.
Thanks in advance!
-Steve

 

[skyfire]

welcome to CPF!

how about a p60 host such as a surefire 6P, C2, Z2 bored out to use rechargeable li-ion 18650 size batteries. or a solarforce L2P or L2 which readily accepts 18650s for under $30.

then check out nailbender's drop-ins. linger special, or a SST drop in would provide over 500 lumens. and will flood very nicely, run times on max are about an hour. these are very bright for its size so heat dissipation could be an issue.

 

[joe1512]

Hows the budget?

The itp A6 Polestar is a light I gave my dad. It is fairly well built, uses 6xAA eneloops and produces 600 lumens or so in a floody pattern. It costs 80 bucks. The aluminum walls are a bit thin though, which is not normally a problem but maybe if you plan on dropping it a lot it could be.

The TK40 is a very well built light with more throw, but a nicely balanced beam profile. It costs about 140 bucks and uses 8xAA eneloops. Theres been several torture tests and it has come out nicely.

These 2 choices are nice because you can use existing AA chargers and use AAs for other stuff around the house.


Most other choices people will discuss are going to use 18650 batteries, which are found in laptops in battery packs. They require special care and specialty chargers. However, they provide the most charge for the size and a great number of powerful lights here use them.

 

[jamesmtl514]

Surefire E1B backup. and/or LX2

 

[red02]

welcome to CPF!

how about a p60 host such as a surefire 6P, C2, Z2 bored out to use rechargeable li-ion 18650 size batteries. or a solarforce L2P or L2 which readily accepts 18650s for under $30.

then check out nailbender's drop-ins. linger special, or a SST drop in would provide over 500 lumens. and will flood very nicely, run times on max are about an hour. these are very bright for its size so heat dissipation could be an issue.

+1

P60 hosts are best for durability in that they use springs to insulate the battery, and indecently the circuit from shock of falling.

 

[fishx65]

welcome to CPF!

how about a p60 host such as a surefire 6P, C2, Z2 bored out to use rechargeable li-ion 18650 size batteries. or a solarforce L2P or L2 which readily accepts 18650s for under $30.

then check out nailbender's drop-ins. linger special, or a SST drop in would provide over 500 lumens. and will flood very nicely, run times on max are about an hour. these are very bright for its size so heat dissipation could be an issue.

+2
I'm even happy with the 4 $10.00 DX R2's I picked up. Great mix of spot and throw. Hard to believe the deals you can find on a Solarforce L2, a couple 18650's and charger.

 

[325addict]

I would think of a light using a Cree MC-E (quad die) LED-emitter.

The first that comes to my mind is the Wolf Eyes MC-E Sniper. This one is, unlike the monsters that were proposed above, small and suitable for use on a bike (I already tried this).

It is very bright, has a nice floody beam and runs from one 18650 battery (run time is around one hour on high).

Besides the "high" there is a medium (3 hours run time) and a low (50(!) hours run time).

It is built like a tank and can surely survive some droppings. Here's a picture of it:

Timmo.

 

[photonstorm]

How about this sleek and ultimate versatile set-up . . . . . . . .

2 Quark variants

One with an R2 emitter, your choice of power source for throw (Turbo head for even more distance if you can find one)

http://www.4sevens.com/index.php?cPath=297_365&osCsid=0bef374bba468dc4d27ff8c4a7e8dd57

The second Quark with an updated R5 LED for flood and efficiency, also with your battery choice

http://www.4sevens.com/index.php?cPath=297_305

Don't like the cool white? than choose a warm or neutral tint here ....

WARM http://www.4sevens.com/index.php?cPath=297_310

NEUTRAL http://www.4sevens.com/index.php?cPath=297_402

Also leaves you the option of changing your battery source by changing bodies at any time.

Finally, mount them on your bike with two of these gorgeous mini mounts in your choice of either silver or black

http://www.dkg-cnc.com/maglite.html


An Quark RGB will allow you to use one of the lights as a tail light using the red strobe if you set up the mount on your seatpost
* * * Carry spare batteries for extended run times, rechargable lithiums for extra brightness * * *
If you find the Quarks too big, MiNi Quark 123 on RCR look pretty slick on these mounts (my set-up)

 

[skyfire]

How about this sleek and versatile set-up . . . . . . . .

2 Quarks

One with a R2 emitter, your choice of power source for throw

http://www.4sevens.com/index.php?cPath=297_365&osCsid=0bef374bba468dc4d27ff8c4a7e8dd57

The second with an updated R5 LEDfor flood , also with your battery choice

http://www.4sevens.com/index.php?cPath=297_305

Don't like the cool white? than choose a warm or neutral tint....

WARM http://www.4sevens.com/index.php?cPath=297_310

NEUTRAL http://www.4sevens.com/index.php?cPath=297_402

Also leaves you the option of changing your battery source by changing bodies at any time.

Finally, mount them on your bike with two of these gorgeous mini mounts with your choice of either silver or black

http://www.dkg-cnc.com/maglite.html

carry spare batteries for extended run time

i dont bike, but if i did id probably do something like that. use 2 quarks with neutral tints, on either side. and a thrower in the center. with 2 or 3 lights you dont have to run them on max, and will have longer runtimes, and the lights will stay cooler.

 

[HarryN]

Hi folks. I need a LED light or two and I need to narrow down my choices. -Steve

Hi, welcome to CPF. What a great screen name for an LED guy. :thumbsup:

Harry

 

[HOLONYAK]

Hi, welcome to CPF. What a great screen name for an LED guy. :thumbsup:

Harry

Haha thanks. My standard SN is STEVE-O (G35Driver.com and MyG37.com) but it was taken...I think this was a fine plan-b.

Hey, thanks for the hospitality everyone. I have been having a blast researching on this forum. Coincidentally I have a week of vacation and no plans...looks like the basement is NOT getting organized.

I am working on my torch short-list. After a little more research Ill be educated enough to ask some more questions.

 

[king2penn]

one of the newer sst-50 lights would be a good recommendation. or u could try the olight sr90 :twothumbs

 

[andylondon]

Here is my set-up. 2 x Surefire 6P HA III bored out to fit 1 x 18650 cell, 2 x Surefire Z59 tailcaps, 1 x Dereelight 3SD R2 SMO reflector for throw. The other drop-in i bought from Deal Extreme single mode R5 P60 drop-in, wide voltage range. Modded with a Dereelight 3SD driver. 2 x AW 18650 2600mAH cells. One cell for each torch. The lux on the R2 drop-in 11,800. The lux on the R5 drop-in 10,300. The R5 is better for illuminating a wider area while still retaining some throw, and the R2 is better for throw as they both use good rechargeable cells and get a runtime of 2hrs and 9mins on high. Not too shabby

 

[sjmack]

I would also go with a P60 host. Go for a 6P with an M61 drop in and you will love it.

 

[AlphaZen]

P-Rocket from Shiningbeam is catered to bikers. 800 lumens. I don't have one, but it looks ideal for your needs. They offer a CPF discount as well.